"But... but, what's the point? Spending so much time, no, spending only time practicing such a boring technique that doesn't even increase your combat power... Is that Elf a psycho?"
Although Aura was starting to believe Fíliya's words, she still found it incredible.
"Frieren is certainly not a psycho. The purpose of her practice is very simple: to make the Demon Race let down their guard, and then launch a surprise attack on you."
"So, Aura, if you were to face Lady Frieren, you'd truly die a miserable death... Oh, no, from the records and literature I've seen, that Lady Frieren is actually quite kind. So she would probably just give you an order to kill yourself. How merciful."
"Hmm, if it were me, things would be different."
Fíliya continued speaking, completely ignoring Aura's slightly trembling body.
"If it were me, after making Aura my slave, I would give you three commands."
"[One: Aura is not to approach any human. The moment any human appears within your sensory range, you must immediately flee.]"
This rule is because most of the Demon Race cannot comprehend the act of 'harm' or the emotion of 'malice,' so commands like 'Do not harm humans' or 'Do not bear malice toward humans' are often ineffective. However, given Aura's rich emotions, perhaps 'Do not harm humans' might actually work on her?
"[Two: Aura, regardless of time or place, must attack all members of the Demon Race you encounter without hesitation.]"
"[Three: The moment there is any sign of the Magic of Obedience (Auserlese) on Aura being dispelled, or if any being attempts to help you dispel the Magic of Obedience, you must immediately kill yourself.]"
"Yes, that should do it. These three commands would completely seal off all possibilities for you, Aura, turning you into an eternal and useful machine that can only hunt its own kind, without any fear of you going out of control."
"Mhmm, although those with a 'noble spirit' can resist the Magic of Obedience, you, Aura, are certainly not acquainted with the word 'noble.' So if you were to fall under the Magic of Obedience, the effect would be permanent."
After voicing her opinion, Fíliya watched Aura with a happy expression.
Then, what she had been waiting for happened.
The voice in her head instantly announced:
[Acquired 1.5 million emotion points]
Excellent, excellent. As expected, Aura's emotions are much richer than Solitär's. Just a little scare like that, and she immediately contributed so many points.
In Miss Fíliya's view, Aura's body trembled more and more violently, until she let out a piercing shriek.
"You... you monster, are you a devil?!"
Aura pointed a hand at Fíliya.
She imagined herself in the situation Fíliya had described, if those three commands were truly placed upon her.
She'd be better off dead.
Bound by these three commands, her existence would truly be worse than death... she would be begging for it.
How can this human be more vicious than us from the Demon Race? When we of the Demon Race kill, it's just a head rolling on the floor. Who could come up with such a wicked method?
This person is a devil!!!
If, just a few minutes ago, the person Aura feared most was Solitär, now, this human named Fíliya had become a strong contender for the title of 'Most Feared Being' in Aura's mind.
"Alright, Aura, that's enough idle chatter. Hurry up and attack me. Use that Magic of Obedience you're so proud of. Come on, don't hold back."
Miss Fíliya started speaking strangely again, but Miss Aura was clearly taken aback by her actions.
Aura began to think frantically. She felt that in all her past few hundred years, she had never been in a situation like this; her brain cells were working more actively than ever.
She thought.
This human couldn't possibly have... some kind of trump card, right? The things she said before were getting more and more terrifying.
Fíliya... she couldn't be hiding her mana like that Frieren she mentioned, could she?
No... no matter how I think about it, it's impossible. She's a young human who's only lived for a little over a decade. Even if she's hiding her mana, how much could she possibly hide? It's a completely different concept from an Elf hiding their mana.
Then why isn't this human afraid of me...? Why isn't she afraid of my Magic of Obedience?
Could it be...
Aura thought of a terrifying possibility.
Could this human named Fíliya possess some kind of causality-reversal magic?
After I use the Magic of Obedience, it will definitely take effect, and this person will become my slave.
But... what if, at that very moment, she uses some method to reverse causality... wouldn't I become her slave instead?
The effect of the Magic of Obedience is absolute, but if it's causality reversal, it could override my magic.
!!! I see.
Miss Aura once again felt she had discovered the truth, so she hurriedly put away her Scales of Obedience.
"I... I... I won't use it! Test over! The great Aura refuses to use this magic on you!"
Aura shouted.
This made Fíliya and Solitär exchange another glance, both seeing confusion in the other's eyes.
What's this idiot freaking out about now?
Fíliya fell into thought.
Then she figured it out.
"Oh, Aura, are you afraid I'll use your Magic of Obedience against you? Honestly, you. When you should be cautious, you have this arrogant look like a dead pig not fearing boiling water. But now, during a simple test, you're suddenly so inexplicably wary. Everything I said before was just to scare you. I can't be bothered to do anything to you. I simply want to test if I can withstand your magic."
Under the persuasion of Fíliya's gentle tone, Aura's mindset slowly began to change. She asked suspiciously.
"R... really? You won't use some weird method to make me your slave, will you...? E-even if I become a slave, you're not allowed to bind me with those three commands..."
It's hard to say what Miss Aura was truly afraid of, but she chose to concede even further.
"Of course it's true. I swear on Solitär!"
Fíliya said with a light laugh, casually grabbing Solitär's wrist and raising her right hand as if to add credibility to her words.
Solitär, however, just silently watched Fíliya's actions without saying a word.
"Alright... I'll trust you this once."
Looking nervous, Miss Aura picked up her Scales of Obedience again.
Such an expression struck Miss Fíliya as particularly amusing.
How could an insidious and evil member of the Demon Race so easily trust a human like me? Aura, you adorable creature.
______
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